Copies of the Teacher's Guide which comtains many additional lesson plans are available from the National Japanese American Historical Society, 1855 Folsom Street, #161, San Francisco, CA 94103. For More information call: (415) 431-5007, fax: (415) 431-0311 or e-mail: NJAHS.
Purpose: It is difficult for anyone to truly feel the experiences that others have gone through unless he or she has been through similar situations. However, it is very important for students to "feel" history as well as to know it. Therefore, students can study the circumstances under which Japanese Americans were removed from their homes, their cities, and encamped in isolation during World War II.
Objectives:
1. To help students become aware of the Japanese American World War II Camp Experience.
2. To have students reflect upon and understand our shared responsibility to uphold the Constitution, the Bil1 of Rights and civil liberties of all Americans, at all times.
Duration: 1 - 3 weeks
Activity One:
1. Assign students to read excerpts from Camp Notes and Other Poems by Mitsuye Yamada and several chapters from And Justice For All by John Tateishi. Random House, Inc. New York, NY, 1984 or read poem by former internee Kiku Funabiki (See Silence… No More)
2. Show one of the following videos: Visible Target ( by John deGraaf), Days of Waiting (Oscar-winning film by Steven Okazaki), Unfinished Business (Steven Okazaki), A Personal Matter, Cordon Hirabayashi versus the United States, (by John deGraaf)
Activity Two:
1. The instructor should facilitate the discussion questions listed below:
A. What did the adults do upon leaving their homes?
B. What was the Executive Order 9066?
C. What does "military necessity" mean?
D. What were some of the occupations Japanese American had before and after their incarceration?
E. What were the conditions in the "camps."
F. How would you feel towards the U.S. government if the episode happened to you?
G. What would you do if this incident happened to you?
H. What were some of the rights in the Bil1 of Rights which may apply in the case of the Executive Order 9066?
I. What would you do or not do to prevent this mistake from happening again?
J. In times of war, who is responsible for protecting the Bill of Rights?
K. For the Defense of the country?
L. For the survivors, what were some of the consequences of the eviction and incarceration.
